SKEAN DUBHS

Comrie Craft Sgian Dubhs

We have found oursleves with some comrie Crafts sgians which we did not sell before the end of our Highland Games season. So, we are, for the first time in awhile, listing these knives on our web site. What we have on hand is shown below. All are subject to prior sale and we will not be reordering before late winter. All Comrie Craft sgians now come with an attractive gift box for no additional charge. Post and Packing will be $5 for each knife.

All these knives are equipped with an unmarked stainless steel blade with the traditional "jimped" back. They are also furnished with a high quality leather sheath embossed with a Celtic knot (style of decoration may vary). The descriptions refer to the handle material and trim. The price is listed after the description of each knife.

From left to right above we have a lace ebony sgian with ebony trim and a bullhorn cap ($100). Next is an arctic birch sgian with ebony trim and a bullhorn cap ($105). Third from the left is another arctic birch handle, but with a pewter thistle inlay, ebony trim and bullhorn cap (SOLD). Next is a bull horn sgian, again with ebony trim and bullhorn cap (contrasting) ($90). Fifth is a red deer beam with a pewter roebuck head inlay, ebony trim and a bullhorn cap (SOLD). Finally, another red deer antler beam with ebony trim and a bull horn cap ($85).

In this photo, again from left to right, we have first a thuya burr knife with ebony trim and bullhorn cap ($100). Thuya burr is a gorgeous tropical hardwood. Second is a red deer crown sgian with a Celtic knot inlay in the cap, and ebony trim (SOLD). Next is a turned ebony sgian with coco bolo trim and bullhorn cap ($85). Then we have a coco bolo sgian with thistle inlay (SOLD) Fourth is a coco bolo sgian with ebony trim and a brass cap, which is suitable for engraving (SOLD) . Finally, we have a red deer beam with ebony trim and a thistle inlay, which is difficult to see in the photo, but is identical to the inlay in sgian number four (SOLD). The sgians on either end are shown in their boxes, along with the description which comes with each knife.
These are extremely high qulaity "heirloom" sgians, the kind that are handed down from generation to generation. We know that you or your special Highlander will be proud to wear one of these fine Scottish-made sgian dubhs. Hurry and call because the supply is limited to what we illustrate here.

Laird's Skean Dubh

This skean sports chrome fittings, an amethyst jewel in the pommel and a Damascus steel blade. Larger than most skeans we offer, this one is 8 inches overall (when sheathed) with a 3 inch jimped back blade.

$95 plus $5 post & packing WE HAVE RECEIVED A SMALL SHIPMENT OF THESE SKEANS AND HAVE TWO LEFT. WE ARE PRETTY SURE THAT THIS REPRESENTS THE LAST OF THESE WHICH WE WILL RECEIVE. ACT NOW IF YOU WANT ONE.

Scottish Sgian Dubhs

Red Deer crown on the left and Arctic Birch on the Right

Below you see the Red Deer crown with thistle inlay, Stag beam with nickle silver button, Turned ebony with a horn cap and paduk trim and lastly another antler beam with thistle inlay and horn cap. All but the ebony sgian are accented with ebony trim.

Made by Comrie Crafts of Pitlochry, Scotland, these stag-hilted sgians are the finest we have seen. Made from red deer crowns or beams and equipped with the traditional style blade with jimped back and fitted with a leather sheath, embossed with a Celtic design, these are high quality knives. All styles are not always in stock. Please call for availability and price.

The dollar to pound exchange rate is changing rapidly.

The Regimental Skean Dubh

Companion piece to our Dirk for Dress or Daywear, the Regimental has a jimped blade, crosshatched blackwood hilt and leatherette covered sheath with nickel silver throat and tip. New regular low price.

$43 postpaid

THE "NO WORRY" SGIAN DUBH

Have you ever lost an expensive sgian? Here is the antidote to worrying about losing a costly sgian dubh at the Highland Games. This sgian has a plastic handle with a simulated bull horn cap (also plastic) and a decent stainless steel blade. Comes with a leather sheath embossed with a Celtic design. Made to resemble an ebony-handled sgian produced by a well-known Scottish maker. But, you won't shed a tear if you lose this one!
$13 post paid - These knives have disappeared from the wholesale catalog. We have a few on hand but they will go fast.

A Word About Spelling
On this page you will see various spellings for the same type of weapon, the "Black Knife" of the Highlander. The word "skean or sgian dubh" means black knife in Gaelic. That does not refer to the color of the handle, but to the fact that the knife was small and usually hidden somewhere on the Highlander's person. Many Highlanders carried a small knife tucked up under the armpit, inside the waistcoat, and this was referred to as a "skean occles" or, literally, an "armpit knife". The practice of wearing the skean tucked into the top of the kilt hose dates to no earlier than the end of the 18th century. There are many legends about why the knife is now carried in the hose, most of them untrue. In point of fact, the skean was just a bit too big to carry in the sporran, and with the abandonment of the great kilt or belted plaid, with its many "pockets", the most practical place to put the small knife was in the kilt hose. We have seen Victorian era comments about the wearing of the skean that specify that it be carried in the top of the right stocking, even by a left handed person!
We do not know why there are different spellings for the same word in Gaelic, but it appears that "sgian" is probably the older spelling. Either one is acceptable